For a commissioned build, a wood deck is a winner. It has a look that a non-modeler customer will think is great.
These are supplied with cut outs where the various bumps on the cast plastic deck are. As a modeler, I don't use them too often except when the subject cries "DECK", like a pre-dreadnought.
But they look pretty cool.
As for how to make them work, do some forum searches because there's been quite a lot of back-and-forth here.
You will really be challenged by the camouflage. if it's at the time of her death, that wrap stuff is super difficult to do. I've built a few on a destroyer sort of scale, and I would advise that you mask and paint after assembly of the plastic and the wood decks.
There's no good way to lay out and paint the camo on the parts before assembly. Use lots and lots of little Tamiya 6mm square pieces, lining them up as you go against something like the backside on an exacto blade.